Death and sinking in quicksand - a question?

[Fred588]

I'm just kinda turned off by the "death" concept because the physics behind it just don't add up. Mud is denser than your body, so it's harder to get much more than shoulder deep.

You gotta be weighed down by something else denser than you to not have a hound's chance in hell of resurfacing.

But eh, that's just me.

The ability, or willingness, to ignore details of possibility is called "the willing suspension of disbelief" in the parlance of theater and movie creativity. It is what enables us to enjoy such factually preposterous stories such as Star Trek, Star Wars, Dr Who, and the like.

[Mr Mudster]

It is what enables us to enjoy such factually preposterous stories such as Star Trek, Star Wars, Dr Who, and the like.

Dr. Who factually preposterous? Never!

"Exterminate! Exterminate!"

[PM2K]

We all have to remember we are talking fantasy here... and sometimes it does get a little dark, and maybe make one a tad uncomfortable, which isn't a bad thing, frankly. Death being the ultimate in darkness. But like anything, it is in how it is used.

I've written stories both erotic and dramatic to lighthearted, with grim and happy endings and everything in between. (Thanks for the kind words for "Nikki", DJlurker... I'm hoping to bring her back one day for another sinking adventure).

Personally, I prefer grim endings in my dramatic stories, but not always. I like my qs traps to be of the harsh natural justice variety, as in, the baddie deserves it and vanishes, while the heroine/intended victim escapes. Or perhaps it is harsh karma - if said person wasn't such a jerk to everyone, maybe she'd have someone nearby to rescue her... that sort of thing.
I did do a story when a nice girl is murdered by being tossed into quicksand by some baddies.... only to return as a swamp guardian spirit who makes them regret that action. That is more of a superhero origin story, just with quicksand, but it is also hows death can fit into a qs narrative....

My erotic stuff, or sinking for the pleasure of it, is half and half... sometimes she goes out with a bang, so to speak... or is able to get out so she can sink another time. In both cases, it is her actions which get her into trouble.... and sometimes she's okay with her grim fate if it comes to that. Romeo and Juliet like endings I'm very fond of, at times. In those cases, it is a choice the couple made together... (remember - this is fantasy, and not advocating suicide for real...)

My story Klaae, about a lady warrior being seduced and consumed by an erotic clay elemental taking the form of its previous victims, is for the reader to decide whether it is a sad fate or not. She certainly had a good time... and her soul lives on happily within the clay itself... although it is likely she will also take part in consuming the next victim to come along.

My point is, death itself isn't really "death" in the fantasy we are all working with, but an element of the tale being told. When we enjoy fiction and fantasy, and characters get killed off for the sake of the story, that is all it is. It isn't as if we would enjoy seeing people being killed in real life (I would hope not, anyway...) Not to belittle any serious concerns here, but to me, worrying about death in our fantasies is overthinking the concept a bit too much. But that is just my two cents.

[tanya_wam]

The ability, or willingness, to ignore details of possibility is called "the willing suspension of disbelief" in the parlance of theater and movie creativity. It is what enables us to enjoy such factually preposterous stories such as Star Trek, Star Wars, Dr Who, and the like.

And the Tarzan films which usually contain quicksand. Yes, I can understand those as a peril, and I like some elements of 'peril' myself (ask the BF! ). I guess that's what Nessie means about the fantasy side of quicksand (either stories or videos) and the difference in the rules where, say, an actual news report where someone may actually have drowned while stuck in quicksand, yes?

[Allusion Namiboo]

The ability, or willingness, to ignore details of possibility is called "the willing suspension of disbelief" in the parlance of theater and movie creativity. It is what enables us to enjoy such factually preposterous stories such as Star Trek, Star Wars, Dr Who, and the like.

I hear ya, Fred, but I place myself in the participant's shoes.

I'm a sinker, after all. I picture myself in the stuff when I see it.

[JT_Keller]

I myself enjoy the scenarios where the victims sink under and don't come back up. It's also a vicarious thrill for me, so in a way I like the idea of myself sinking out of sight for good, but obviously I have no desire to die. I even find it off-putting for the women I'm watching to acknowledge that going under means death.

Like Fred said, for some people it's a metaphor for sex, and in my case it's also an act of submission. By going under I'm fully submitting to whoever is dragging/pushing me under, even if it's just the quicksand itself. Then, through the magic of fantasy, staying below the surface is kind of like contentedly falling asleep in your lover's arms after sex, and then I guess I just passively fill in the rest as waking up completely safe and unharmed to do it all again another time.

It's weird and only makes sense in the context of fantasy, but fetishes are really kinda irrational to begin with. I take comfort in knowing what elements combine to form my fantasies and I know myself well enough to recognize that I don't have some buried desire to die. In a real life situation I'll resurface every time, whether by buoyancy or having my partner hold me under no more than a few seconds.

Anyway, on the topic of your stories. You can explore your own interests through story as they evolve, but if you're not into something and no one is paying you to write about it, don't push yourself to please everyone. When you produce the things that you wish there was more of (apologies for the forthcoming cliche), that's when your heart will take care of the rest. And people will notice and appreciate it.

Keep up the good work.

[tanya_wam]

Anyway, on the topic of your stories. You can explore your own interests through story as they evolve, but if you're not into something and no one is paying you to write about it, don't push yourself to please everyone. When you produce the things that you wish there was more of (apologies for the forthcoming cliche), that's when your heart will take care of the rest. And people will notice and appreciate it.

Oh I wasn't planning to. The scene in the pending story is there, admittedly, to satisfy some readers who might feel less interested in the main sink and is also a kind of portent. It was also fun to write in a more melodramatic way than usual!

Keep up the good work.

Thank you!

[The Highwayman]

Death scenes to me are a big no no. We've all seen them in the classic Tarzan films and I dare say many others. Personally I prefer a good quicksand scene to end with the damsel being rescued and that makes in my opinion half of a good scene as well as the actual sink its self. It has to have a good drama to it as well.

I am sure that opinions vary but for me a death scene is a total anticlimax.

The Highwayman

[Villein]

I don't personally 'enjoy' the death aspect of quicksand however when it occurs in fiction I don't sit and up think "that's not on!" but rather "that's to be expected".

I don't talk about my day job here... but it were to pen fiction, I'd not exactly be upset about writing a death due to quicksand.
How many other horrid forms of death do you think a fiction writer pens, or even worse, imagines during the day?

The truth is that there are far worse ways to die (slowly after 40 years of an unsatisfying career and marriage for example followed by an unforeseen heart attack or stroke).
But Fred's suggestion of 'being drawn to an early grave quite literally' is pretty spot on as far as quicksand-as-metaphor can be.
It can be other things mind but in most Tarzan films that's the intended use.

Only we perverts might see otherwise, surely!

[H8ms2014]

I've always loved the drama, and most of the time I can enjoy the fictional side of things with my brain going not true not true.(Some exceptions like Season 2 Zoo premiere. Just couldn't get it through that wolves only use eyesight and howling to hunt for prey ) I can live with the drama, and the grim endings, but also the rescue. I am also enjoying the real erotica associated with quicksand, depending on how descriptive and edumacated the author is (Such as Tanya's excellent works). So if it involves quicksand that was not written in a similar style to grade school kids, I enjoy it.